Analysis of Land Development and Preparation Costs for Irrigated Agriculture in Kebbi State

This study analyses the costs of land development and preparation for irrigated agriculture in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Land development for irrigation, encompassing land clearing, levelling, channel excavation, and bund construction, involves significant capital investment that determines the economic viability of irrigation scheme development. In Kebbi State, where irrigation expansion is a priority for enhancing food production along the Kebbi River basin, understanding land development cost structures is essential for investment planning. This study uses a combination of engineering cost estimation and field survey methods, documenting land development activities and costs for 12 recent irrigation scheme development sites in Argungu, Jega, and Yauri local government areas. Cost data are collected from contractor records, government project documents, and farmer self-reporting. Unit costs for clearing, levelling, channel construction, and bund establishment are computed per hectare. Mechanised versus manual labour cost comparisons are conducted. Findings reveal that total land development costs average 285,000 naira per hectare for conventional scheme development, with land levelling accounting for 42 percent of total cost. Mechanised levelling using motor graders is 65 percent more efficient than manual levelling but less economically competitive for small, irregular plots. The study concludes that land development cost is a significant barrier to irrigation expansion in Kebbi State. It recommends subsidised mechanised land levelling services and simplified cost recovery designs for smallholder scheme development.

Keywords: land development, irrigation costs, Kebbi State, land levelling, irrigated agriculture.